Dubai – In a move widely condemned by human rights organizations, an Emirati court on March 4, 2025, upheld a 15-year prison sentence against Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent Emirati human rights defender. The ruling, following what rights groups have described as a fundamentally unfair trial, signals continued repression of dissent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court rejected Mansoor’s appeal, along with dozens of others convicted in one of the UAE’s largest mass trials. In July 2024, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court sentenced 53 defendants to prison terms ranging from 10 years to life on charges linked to terrorism-related laws.
International Condemnation Over ‘Sham Trial’
Human Rights Watch (HRW) and other rights groups condemned the court’s decision, calling it a politically motivated attack on Mansoor for his peaceful activism.
“This latest decision shows how the UAE continues to target a man who courageously stood up to his abusive government even when very few would dare,” said Joey Shea, UAE researcher at HRW. “The UAE should be celebrating Mansoor’s contributions, not sentencing him in yet another sham trial.”
The Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center, a human rights organization, reported that Mansoor’s appeal was dismissed on procedural grounds. He was initially sentenced in May 2018 to 10 years in prison for allegedly “spreading false news” to “harm the reputation of the state,” a charge directly tied to his human rights advocacy.
Unfair Convictions Under UAE’s Counterterrorism Law
Mansoor was already serving that sentence when he was convicted again in July 2024, after UAE authorities accused 84 defendants of establishing a “clandestine terrorist organization” called the Justice and Dignity Committee. The charges stem from the UAE’s 2014 counterterrorism law, which allows for life sentences and even the death penalty for running such organizations.
Rights groups argue that Mansoor’s conviction was based solely on his communications with international human rights organizations, including HRW and Amnesty International. Both of his trials were held in secret, with authorities refusing to release charge sheets or court rulings.
Years of Isolation and Alleged Mistreatment
Mansoor, a winner of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in 2015, has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest in 2017. Reports from the United Nations and independent rights groups state that he has been denied access to books, television, radio, eyeglasses, and even basic hygiene products. Until recently, he was forced to sleep without a bed or mattress.
These conditions, according to human rights organizations, amount to torture and inhumane treatment, a claim UAE authorities deny while refusing independent access to Mansoor.
In addition to his imprisonment, Mansoor has faced continuous harassment, intimidation, and even cyberattacks from Emirati authorities. He was targeted with sophisticated spyware, allegedly deployed by the UAE government, to monitor his activities.
Call for Justice and Transparency
Rights groups have called on the UAE government to immediately release Mansoor and allow international observers to monitor his condition.
“Upholding Ahmed Mansoor’s sentence from the latest sham trial is a blatant attempt to undermine justice for one of the UAE’s most celebrated human rights defenders,” Shea said.
The UAE, which has sought to project itself as a progressive global leader, faces growing international criticism over its crackdown on dissent, even as it continues to host high-profile international events and position itself as a business and tourism hub.
